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NHL sells naming rights to divisions for 2020-21 season

Realigned divisions get special sponsor names

PITTSBURGH - MAY 04: The NHL logo behind the net during the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers prior to game five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 4, 2008 at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) (Bruce Bennett, 2008 Getty Images)

The pandemic forced the NHL to realign its divisions for the 2020-21 season, and now those divisions will have sponsors.

The special divisions formed just for this COVID-shortened season -- games start Jan. 13 -- will be sponsored by Discover (Central), Honda (West), Mass Mutual (East) and Scotiabank (North).

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Again, here’s a look at the divisions -- teams will play all regular season games within their division:

East: Boston, Buffalo, New Jersey, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

Central: Carolina, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Chicago, Florida, Nashville, Tampa

West: Anaheim, Arizona, Colorado, Los Angeles, Minnesota, San Jose, St. Louis, Vegas

🇨🇦 North: All seven Canadian teams

Helmet ads for revenue

Clearly, the NHL is looking for new revenue streams amid the pandemic as fans will be locked out of arenas for the foreseeable future (well, most arenas). The league is now allowing helmet ads.

The Detroit Red Wings announced Monday they will feature a United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) logo on player helmets starting this season.

Some of these helmet logos are ... better than others:

Will we see more moves to increase revenue? How about renaming the teams -- the Detroit Little Caesars, perhaps? The youth teams are way ahead here.

Is this where we’re heading? New York Red Bulls, anyone?

Why not.